Method of making a novel motor fuel



Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

F-lCE--' ERNST JOHANSEN', OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NEWENGLAND OIL REFINING COMPANY, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD or MAKING A NOVEL Moron. FUEL.

No Drawing. Original application filed April 4, 1924; Serial No.704,165. Divided and this application filed August 19, 1925.

The invention relates to a novel method of making a novel motor fuel.

It h'asbeen known for some time that certain organic metallic compounds,especiallyvlead compounds, when added to motor fuels, such ascertaincommercial gasolines, render the vapors of the latter when mixed withair capable of much higher compression, than would otherwise be thecase, before the mixture will detonate when ignited under pressure. Inother words, by the use of gasoline thus treated, internal combustionmotors can be run at a much higher compression than in the case ofgasoline not so treated without the occurrence of the objectionablephenomenon known as knocking, thus greatly increasing the power andefliciency of the engine.

The lead compounds heretofore used for this purpose are organic leadcompounds produced by special synthetic processes widely difiering fromthose employed in the refining of petroleum. The expense of producingthese organic lead compounds is relatively high so that the price of thefuels to which these compounds have beenadded is considerably increased.7

I have found that motor fuels containing organic metallic compounds maybe'readily and cheaply produced by the direct action of certain metallicoxides or compounds upon certain petroleum products. In this way, thedesirable metal compounds. are.

formed directly in the petroleum product or fuel and remain dissolved inthe latter.

The costly separate production of expensive synthetic metal compoundsand their addition to the motor fuel, such as gasoline, are thusavoided. I

In preparing my novel fuel I use the petroleum products knnown as'sourdistillates, (see Das Erdol by Engler Hofer, 1911, vol. 3. page 871,foot note). obtained in the distillation of crude petroleum orintermediate petroleum products. These distillates are characterized bytheir ability to react with certain metallic compounds, for examplecertain metallic oxides, such as copper or lead oxides, or a solution ofsaid oxides in an alkali solution, thereby forming metallic compoundsthat remain dissolved in the distillates. I expose these distillates tothe action of said metallic com- Serial No. 51,255.

pounds or oxides, preferably using for this purpose either'lead oxide oralkali plumbite,

but do not limit myself to the use of these.

materials. A fraction of sour distillate,

having a boiling rangesuitable for motor fuel, is firstfreed from theelementary sulphur therein contained in any suitable manner, forinstancev by redistillation, Previous to this or after, the distillatemaybe treated with. a slight amount of sulphuric acid to improve thecolor and odor of the distillate, following this by washing with water.This however is optional. The product obtained by the redistillation isthen agitated at ordinary temperature with lead oxide (litharge) eitherin dry form or dissolved in a solution of sodium or potassium hydroxidewhereby a sodium or potassium plumbite is formed (alkali plumbite).' Thecolor. of the distillate, which is generally water white, isby thistreatment changed to. yellow If the dry -lead oxide is used, any excessof lead oxide is first'allowed to settle, where upon the liquid productbecomes-perfectly clear and can be drawn ofi' ready for use.

If a solution of lead oxide in sodium or. potassium. hydroxide is usedany excess thereof will separate andhavin been al lowed to settle may bedrawnjo I preferably use from one to three pounds oflead oxide perforty-two gallon barrel of distillate.

The clear settled yellow productcontaining up to one gram of lead perliter, or even more, is permanent under ordinary condi-. tions, and canbe used as amotor fuel for enginesworking with high compression. It canbe used either pure or blended in' any suitable proportions withgasoline or other I motor fuels, such as benzol, alcohol or ether.

The novel motor fuel produced by the above method is believed to containthe lead in the form of addition compounds. The advantages of the novelfuel, besides those already mentioned, are low cost of production andsimple manner of preparation, re-

- quiring no other apparatus or reagents than those universally used inthe refining of petroleum products.

This application is a divisional a plica tion of my application SerialNo.7 ,165,

filed April 4, 1924.

Claims.

1. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises treating sour distillates with a.metallic oxide capableof forming, with sour distillate components, c01np0un ds soluble in thefuel.

2. A process of making a lquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises treating sour distillates with lead oxide. 7

3. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises treating the sour distillates with a solution, in'analkali hydroxide, of a compound of a metal capable of forming, with sourdistillate components, compounds soluble in said fuel.

4. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which coinprises treating the sour distillates with a solution, in analkali hydroxide, of the oxide of a metal capable of forming, with sourdistillate components, compounds soluble in said fuel.

5. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises treating sour distillates with lead oxide in an alkalihydroxide solution.

6. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises treating the sour distillates with a solution, in sodiumhydroxide, of the oxide of a metal capable of forming, with sourdistillate components, compounds soluble in said fuel.

7. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises treating sour distillates with lead OX- ide in sodiumhydroxide.

8. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises freeing sour distillates from any elementary sulphurcontained therein, and treating the product with a metallic oxidecapable of forming, with sour distillate components, compounds solublein the fuel.

9. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises freeing sour distillates from any elementary sulphurcontained therein, and treating the product with lead oxide.

10. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises freeing sour distillates from any elementary sulphurcontained therein, and treating the product with a solution, in analkali hydroxide, of the oxide of a. metal capable of forming, with sourdistillate components, compounds soluble in said fuel.

1. A- process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which comprises freeing sour distillates from any elementary sulphurcontained therein, and treating the product with a solution, in sodiumhydroxide, of the oxide of a metal capable of forming, with sourdistillate coni-' of lead oxide to forty-two gallons of said product.

11. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which coinprises freeing sour distillates from any clenientary sulphurthey may contain; treating the product with an excess of lead oxide; andseparating the excess of lead oxide from the product.

15. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which omprises freeing sour distillates from any elementary sulphur theymay contain; treating the product with an excess of alkali metalplumbite; and separating the excess of alkali metal )lumbite from theproduct.

16. 2 process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which coniprises freeing sour distillates from any elementary sulphurthey may contain and treating the product with sulphuric acid; treatingthe product with an excess of lead oxide; and separating the excess oflead oxide from the product.

17. A process of making a liquid fuel for internal combustion engines,which coinprises freeing sour distillates from any elementary sulphurthey may contain and treating the product with sulphuric acid; treatingthe product with an excess of alkali metal plumbite; and separating theexcess of alkali metal plumbite from the product.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ERNST J OHANSEN

